Guitar Project
Five Secrets of Building a Weissenborn Guitar
For over twenty years I had always been very curious about building a guitar. I had played acoustic guitars almost since I could remember. I had a great mate who lived just down the road from and we did everything together so when he announced he was going to learn to play guitar, naturally, I didn’t want to be left out! We bought a couple of new guitars and practised hard together even on cold Winter’s night we went to the local Laundrette to practise when our folks threw us out!……Yes, my enthusiasm has never waned all through my great hippy youth until today where I find myself living on a yacht in Australia with eight wonderful guitars at the dodgy age of fifty eight..I even still do a few gigs!
But I digress! no matter how many guitars I owned over the years…and I have owned a few…I always had a secret desire to build one for myself. I proudly imagined how I would lovingly carve it all out, inlay it with black Coral, turquoise, silver and glowing mother of pearl. But, whenever it came to the crunch I just didn’t have the balls to actually get stuck in and get to grips with it.
What was wrong? I couldn’t work it out. I had achieved many other things I had set out to do along my journey through life. I’d built a 43 foot yacht, for one thing. I had learned that in order to finish a project off was to tell every living soul I knew that I was going to do it…that way, I knew that later,when my enthusiasm flagged, I just had to see it through, if I didn’t I would get the reputation as a bigmouth ‘gonna be, wanna be” I secretly thought of it as my ‘insurance policy! It really helped, for sure.
However, as much as I loved playing, my life took a big jolt when I finally went to see a great Aussie guy called Jeff Lang play at a concert in my home town. I sat enthralled, spun out, totally blown away at the rich, vibrant, cool whiny sound that seemed to leap from this amazingly shaped lap steel guitar.
It just did not seem possible that a guitar could sound so full, so haunting, so melodic, to tell you the truth, I was so overcome with it all, I felt tears run down my face I felt such a fool…Well, what a state to get in!It was a big crossroads in my guitar playing!
This incident never left me the same again… I wanted one of those Weissenborns so bad it hurt. I felt I couldn’t face my other guitars again. I sulked, we didn’t speak for some weeks…..but I gave in, had to I’d wanted a Taylor all my life…now I’d got it, wasn’t I ever going to play it again? Something was different though…I wanted to play that bloody thing like I’d never wanted to play before, so I did, you’d better believe it. I dont even want to think about how long and how many hours it took me to start improving but I damn well did.
I’ve taken all this time to get around to the whole point of this article. I had got over the indecision that had haunted me…I couldn’t afford two or three grand to buy a good lap steel. No way. I luckily have a great friend in Luthier Kim Hancock of Tamborine Mountain in Queensland. Kim, a kind soul along with his two boys ( also fearsome luthiers) Dane and Sean, build guitars that are something else already established as amongst the best in the World market…
Kim was really encouraging and gave me my first secret, unwittingly. If you start it and stuff it up…so what? It’s only a piece of wood, see what you did wrong, chuck it in the garbage and order another piece..simple! Then, do it right the second time!
The second secret came right on the back of the first one.! Dont let the project intimidate you…take control of it..you are the master, it is the subject. The best secret of all came as I started to build ….I remembered the words during our conversation a few weeks before….Treat every stage of the build as a separate project. The back, the sides, the bridge, the headstock.. a separate project. See, thats a good secret, I reckon. That way you can see the build as lots of small projects instead of one big overwhelming monster……Hey and give yourself a reward every time you complete one of those stages..a beer, a lollypop, go splash out people, dont get cheap on yourselves! The next secret is this: During the build there is always something that will stop you dead in your tracks. With me it was” How in Hell’s bells am I ever going to get the back join perfect or the front one, come to mention it?”Well, my secret was in the fact that I had a good guitar making book supplied to me by Kim. The answer was in there! Glue some sandpaper to a straight edged spirit level and then sand each section smooth as a baby’s bum…see, simple when you know how!
So, find your way round every problem by thinking about it carefully…there is always a way round each problem you encounter, it may not always be the way you had imagined! Oh, yeah, the name of the book is ” A guitar Maker’s manual by Jim Williams” You can get that from Kim Hancock’s site www.Australian Luthiers supplies.com.au Let me say though, there are no plans for a Weissenbourn in there, you can get those from StewMac in the U.S. or other suppliers.
The final secret is a real simple one: Make a firm decision to see it through to the end. I actually live on a yacht in a Marina.. I nearly talked myself out of building the guitar time and time again. I have heard so many times” How can I build a guitar when I havn’t got a shed, a bench saw and so on?” BS people, BS with a capital BULL. Make the best of what you have, get your timber supplier to cut up the timber to size, then get it planed so you dont need all that expensive gear, Man,THEY got it all!
There are a few more secrets too….I have written a book “How to build a Weissenborn Guitar”that will give you a few more lights to shine in those dark corners of that mind of yours! to help you do this thing!This guitar is really basic, just like the originals, no purfling ,no truss rods( they dont need ‘em) bone simple but the sound! YEE haaa! It tells you how to build the guitar of your dreams at your own speed right there at home, in the shed garage or flat with the very minimum of tools and experience. I now have a site all about the build called www.buildaweissenborn.com that you can also see in the authors resource box.
There are some pictures of my new weissenborn there, made incidentally, with Australian Maple( a cousin of Koa) and an indian rosewood fretboard which actually does not have any frets on at all and maybe never will! Finally, I do hope that any of you out there reading this article will want to know how my Weissenborn turned out…..bloody awesome! It is the loudest guitar I have ever heard in thirty years of playing… I can hardly sing over the sound of it!!! and that’s saying something people cause I do have one loud voice.. not a good one folks, but a loud one!! It’s been a levelling but incredible experience, thanks again to my good mate Kim Hancock for all the help and advice he so freely gave to me especially when he didn’t have to!
Terry Buddell is a freelance journalist and a Marine surveyor, boat designer and shipwright, He lives on board his yacht “The Nicky J Miller’ that he built himself on The Gold Coast Australia and has sailed his yacht up the East Coast to the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. He is currently resident in Gladstone Queensland where he is building another boat for his collection of plans for sale on the internet. In his spare time(what spare time??) Terry, a keen guitarist has also built a Weissenborn lap steel guitar, a long time dream! Pictures for most of the articles can be viewed on the website below.
Terry can be contacted on http://www.buildaweissenborn.com and will have another site up and running shortly called http://www.slideguitarworld.com
About the Author
Terry Buddell, a freelance writer, lives on board his yacht in Australia. He recently built a weissenborn acoustic slide guitar on board and you can see photos of the build, buy the book on how to build it, listen to a sound clip of the guitar or even buy the plans for the guitar on www.buildaweissenborn.com .
My guitar Project Part 1
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‘PROJECT ELECTRIC GUITAR LP UNFINISH-mahogany $149.00 |
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SCALLOPED FENDER ‘70S STRAT GUITAR NECK STRATOCASTER PROJECT REAL 70 OEM RI $88.00 |
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Fender Telecaster Bridge Guitar Pickup Parts for Project / Repair $9.99 |
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Hondo H-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar *PROJECT* $29.99 |
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Fender Sonoran SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar *PROJECT* $57.00 |
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1980s Kramer Aero Star ZX10 guitar Neck Beak Headstock EVH project Luthier $49.00 |
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Recording King RD16CFE Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar *PROJECT* $102.00 |
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PROJECT STORM -THE RECKONING–1999—HEAVY METAL/ GUITAR SOLO—RARE CD!! $14.99 |
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Ovation 1866 Legend 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar made in USA *PROJECT* $102.50 |
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Vintage Univox Teisco Sekova Bass Guitar Tuners Lot Set for Project / Repair $25.00 |
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Vintage Teisco Kimberly Sekova Guitar Tuners Inline Set for Project Lot $19.99 |
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Vintage Kawai Teisco Decca Guitar Pickup Parts for Project / Repair $45.00 |
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Vintage Kawai Teisco Decca Guitar Pickup Parts for Project / Repair $45.00 |
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vintage/old guitar tall control knobs x 2 for restorations/rebuilds/projects $12.64 |
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bulgin? guitar control knobs x 2 for restorations/rebuilds/projects #2 $18.96 |
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vintage/old guitar control knobs x 2 for restorations/rebuilds/projects #4 $12.64 |
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Vintage 1965 Harmony Archtop Deco Guitar NECK ! PROJECT – PARTS ! $74.99 |
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Vintage 1965 Pinstripe Harmony Archtop Deco Guitar BODY ! PROJECT – NEEDS REPAIR $59.99 |
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SSH Guitar Body Project S Model Alder Deep Blue Lefty $14.99 |
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SSH Guitar Body Project S Model Alder Deep Blue Lefty $14.99 |
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Vintage Ibanez PF-100 Electric Guitar made in Japan *PROJECT* $113.61 |
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Vintage 70s MONTAYA Classical Acoustic Guitar C88 MIK Hyosung Corp Korea Project $42.50 |
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ELECTRIC GUITAR BODY FENDER FAT STRAT PROJECT UFIX!!! $47.00 |
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Vintage Fender Lead I Made in USA Guitar neck AS IS parts Project 1980’s $159.89 |
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Vintage Fender Guitar Body AS IS parts Project from Lead I Made in USA $89.38 |
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Tony Mottola – Close to You CD SEALED Project 3 easy listening guitar $29.99 |
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70s MIJ Ventura chet atkins country gentelman style guitar PROJECT PARTS VINTAGE $100.00 |
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Ultimate Guitar Zeus by Carmine Appice Project (CD, Aug-2006, Escapi Music) $16.95 |
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Tanglewood TD8-ST Nashville Acoustic Guitar Repair Project $32.00 |
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Epiphone DR100 BL Acoustic Guitar Project w Tuners $23.49 |
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4 Acoustic Guitar Repair Projects Globe Crescent Epiphone Fender $69.99 |
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4 Fender Acoustic Guitar Repair Projects Fender CD60 T-Bucket $74.99 |
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Mitchell MD100S Guitar Repair Project w Tuners $26.00 |
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Fender CD60 SB Acoustic Guitar Luthier Project w Tuners $19.99 |
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Fender CD60 NA Acoustic Guitar Luthier Project w Tuners $19.99 |
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Fender Squier SA100 Acoustic Guitar Project Bridge Lift $22.99 |
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Epiphone AJ-220S NAT Acoustic Guitar Repair Project w Tuners $27.00 |
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Epiphone EJ-200 Artist Acoustic Guitar Repair Project $66.00 |
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Tanglewood TD8-ST Nashville Acoustic Guitar Repair Project $29.99 |
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Alvarez RD16 Regent Acoustic Guitar Repair Project $31.00 |
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Alvarez FD60S Acoustic Electric Guitar Repair Project $31.00 |
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Fender CD60CE Acoustic Electric Guitar Project w Tuners $22.99 |
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4 Fender Acoustic Guitar Repair Projects Fender Squier SA100 $74.99 |
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Fender Sonoran SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar Luthier Project $47.01 |
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Mitchell MD100 Guitar Repair Project w Tuners $36.00 |
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Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy Custom EX Guitar Repair Project $137.50 |
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Epiphone EJ-200 Artist Acoustic Guitar Repair Project $81.00 |
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Lot of Electric Guitar Pickups PROJECT Pieces Bass Tele + $36.99 |
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Yamaha Silent Guitar Preamp Pickup Electronics PROJECT PARTS $9.99 |
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Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar Project Strat $50.00 |
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epiphone les paul special guitar neck w/tuners part project dark cherry $65.00 |
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ibanez gio guitar neck part project maple right $45.00 |
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Antique parlor guitar – fine woods, great project $239.00 |
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Vintage Teisco Kimberly Sekova Guitar Tuners Set for Project Lot $29.99 |
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Vintage Teisco Kimberly Sekova Guitar Tuners Inline Set for Project Lot $19.99 |
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Vintage Dobro Acoustic Guitar Nut Upper Bridge Part for Project / Repair $4.99 |
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Vintage Teisco Kimberly Sekova Guitar Tuners Inline Set for Project Lot $29.99 |
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’50s Style Red Pilot Light Assembly For Tube Guitar Amps Amplifier Project DIY $6.49 |
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’50s Style Blue Pilot Light Assembly For Tube Guitar Amps Amplifier Project DIY $6.49 |
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1964 Martin D28 D-28 Vintage Acoustic Guitar – Brazilian Rosewood Project $1,775.00 |
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Electric Guitar Project Set Neck &Body Set DC Junior Epiphone Lace Luthier Lefty $31.00 |
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Kent 540 Polaris I 1960s Japan PROJECT GUITAR with working Ry Cooder Hot pickup $79.95 |
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4 Electric Guitar Body Projects Repair Fender Squier Strats $29.99 |
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4 Electric Guitar Body Projects Repair Fender Squier Strats Odd Routes $31.99 |
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Unusual 5 Pickup Electric Guitar / Experimental / Great Neck / Project $89.99 |
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Fender Stratacoustic Acoustic Electric Guitar Body No Elec PROJECT $41.00 |
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Epiphone SG Special Guitar Loaded Prewired Body PROJECT $49.99 |
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The National Reso-Phonic Instrumental Project Guitar CD $0.99 |
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Lot of 3 Electric Guitar Neck Necks Projects Epiphone w Tuners $35.00 |
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Lot of 3 Fender Squier Strat Guitar Neck Necks Projects w Tuners $30.99 |
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Ibanez GSR200 4 String Bass Guitar Neck 34″ Scale Project w Fret Buzz $15.50 |
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BEAUTIFUL HOLLOW BODY DIY ELECTRIC GUITAR KIT PROJECT $133.74 |
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Epiphone SG Special Guitar Neck 24.75″ Scale PROJECT w Tuners $29.99 |
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TONY MOTTOLA & THE QUAD GUITARS, LP,1973, QUADRAPHONIC DISC RELEASE, PROJECT3 $4.99 |
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EPIPHONE BATWING STYLE GUITAR NECK IN MAPLE – WILSHIRE LOOKING PROJECT FOR PARTS $22.19 |
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Guitar Project Body Free Pickguard & parts Red Metalic $49.90 |
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12 STRING STRAT STYLE ELECTRIC GUITAR PROJECT SOLID ASH BODY – NEEDS WORK $77.00 |
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Fender Strat Stratocaster Electric Guitar Body Vintage Arctic White Project $88.19 |
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Vintage Fender Strat Stratocaster Guitar Body Purple Silver Burst Project $95.35 |
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NICE Fender Strat Stratocaster Electric Guitar Body Vintage Purple Project $88.15 |
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BYO PROJECT- SG STYLE MAHOGANY ELECTRIC GUITAR BUILDER KIT W/ TREMOLO – DIY $87.50 |
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Original Vintage Teisco Eko Univox Guitar Volume Knob for Project / Repair $7.99 |
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ES-295 Les Paul LP Mary Ford Armrest Vintage Gibson Guitar Project NEW $59.99 |
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Original Vintage Teisco Eko Univox Guitar Tone Knob for Project / Repair $7.99 |
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Original Vintage Teisco Eko Univox Guitar Volume Knob for Project / Repair $7.99 |
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Original Vintage Teisco Eko Univox Guitar Volume Knob for Project / Repair $7.99 |
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SILVERTONE Model 319 12109 Acoustic Flat Top Guitar for project Needs Work $17.50 |
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60s 70s GENUINE ORIGINAL TEISCO ELECTRIC GUITAR NECK JAPAN for PROJECT $3.30 |
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UNFINISHED STRAT SKULL BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR BUILDER KIT – DIY PROJECT $36.00 |
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LOOK !! guitar PROJECT PICKGUARDS…FENDER SQUIER LOOK !! BARGAIN $3.00 |
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1979 Gibson SG Project guitar $510.00 |
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2011 JACKSON DINKY GUITAR JE-10 HUMBUCKERS PICKUPS HH PROJECT UNPLAYED $19.99 |
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ENOCH LIGHT and the Glittering Guitars 12″ LP Project 3 PR 5038 SD Gatefold $4.79 |
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Tube Amp Head Project for Guitar with Tubes Vox AC30 style 35 watts $306.00 |
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Framus Star Bass vintage electric guitar project $499.00 |
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FIRST ACT ELECTRIC GUITAR BODY, FOR PROJECT $25.00 |
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CD 6 Cigar Box Guitar 3 string lessons Part 2 keni lee homemade project crafts $13.99 |
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Unfinished Left Hand 5 String Bass Guitar Kit Project DIY – New $199.99 |
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GUITAR AMPLIFIER CHASSIS DIY PROJECT ELECTRONICS $10.00 |
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Vintage Rickenbacker Lap Steel Guitar Body Project Rickenbacher Quick Sale! $165.00 |
